edited by Em Acuña
Volume 9, Issue 19
February 4, 2026
Hello Honors College community!
While many of us feel stuck inside with the cold, it’s been nice seeing students connecting with each other in the Honors Library. On a very cold day I watched Cone Hall residents find warmth here during an unexpected fire alarm, and it was a good reminder that sometimes the best part of a space is simply that it’s there when people need it. This week’s memo spotlights one of our faculty led education abroad programs from last summer. If it prompts you to dream a little, reach out to your academic mentor to chat about options and how they might fit your plans.
Thanks, as always, for rolling with the changes
Vicky
Upcoming Opportunities:
Dr. Klima is happy to help you apply; send her an email at klimavw@appstate.edu
4th Annual Nutrition Symposium
The Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management will be hosting the 4th annual Nutrition Summit on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Summit will begin with a guest presentation and Q&A with Dr. Dahl, associate professor of public health at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, at 1:00 p.m. in Leon Levine room 103. Following her presentation, there will be poster sessions and oral presentations from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. with a closing awards ceremony afterward. Abstract submissions close on January 30, 2026. Registration is free using the Engage link by March 13, 2026. For questions, contact Dr. Heather Schier for abstracts and Dr. Brook Harmon or Dr. Dani Nunnery for all else.
Summer 2026 Washington at Work Course
Dr. Phillip Ardoin, professor in the Department of Government and Justice Studies, will be leading a Washington at Work course from May 11 – 22, 2026. This course is a 3-credit Honors course that combines academics with an immersive week in Washington, D.C. The first week will be spent on the Boone campus and the second week students will travel to Washington, D.C. where they will visit the Capitol, U.S. Supreme Court, and other iconic monuments. Students will stay at American University. The application deadline is February 16, 2026. For further questions, contact Dr. Phillip Ardoin.
Aisthesis Submission Call
Aisthesis, a student-run honors journal published out of the University of Minnesota Duluth, is calling for current honors students and recent honors alumni to submit academic and creative work. Eligible pieces range from undergraduate research to creative projects like photography and short film. The deadline to submit is March 6, 2026. To submit and learn more about the submission guidelines, visit their website. For further questions contact honorsaisthesis@d.umn.edu
NC Space Grant
The NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholarship is open for applications. The NC Space Grant awards approximately ten scholarships to undergraduate students who are pursuing academics in STEM fields that support NASA’s Mission Directorates. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on March 13, 2026, with letters of recommendation due by 5:00 p.m. on March 16, 2026. To learn more about the scholarship, join an information session hosted at 12:00 p.m. on February 6, 2026.
BRWIA: Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship
Blue Ridge Women in Agriculture (BRWIA) is proud to announce the annual Brittany Robinson Memorial Scholarship fund. This scholarship honors Brittany’s passion and commitment to agriculture, animal husbandry, and sustainability. It is designed to support the next generation of agricultural leaders in the High Country of North Carolina by supporting a student intending to pursue education in agriculture, sustainable development, or animal sciences. The application deadline is March 21, 2026. To learn more about the scholarship and apply, check out BRWIA’s website.
Stay in the Know:
Hayes School of Music Performances
The Hayes School of Music (HSOM) has an upcoming event on Friday, February 6, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in Rosen Concert Hall. The unique percussion group pax duo: Tristan Swihart and Micah Detweiler, based out of Goshen, Indiana, and Madison, Wisconsin, will perform, and they will host a masterclass for Hayes School of Music percussion students at 4:00 p.m. before the performance. Dr. Joby Bell will perform a faculty recital on the organ in the Rosen Concert Hall at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. All events have free admission. Visit the Hayes School of Music Performance Calendar for details on all upcoming events.
Participants Needed for Research Study
Dr. George Wolford, assistant professor with the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, is seeking both autistic and neurotypical adults to participate in his study on how people with and without autism traits communicate with various people in different contexts. Participants can earn $50 by participating in all parts of the study or be entered in a $50 raffle for just filling out the online screening survey. After completing the screening survey, select participants will complete an additional in-person or virtual interview. For further questions, contact Dr. George Wolford.
CEL AppLEADS Certification (Values Exploration)
The Office of Community-Engaged Leadership (CEL) AppLEADs program is offering the second workshop in the series: Values Exploration on either February 10, 11, or 12, 2026. Participants completing each of the five workshops in the AppLEADs program will earn a certificate demonstrating commitment to leadership development. Register on Engage for the Advance session and five workshops. For any questions, contact Kaleigh Del Greco, Interim Coordinator with CEL.
Faculty-Led Education Abroad (FLEAP) to Tokyo: Music, Drama, and Performance of Noh
Elizabeth Parks, associate professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance will lead an education abroad program to Tokyo from June 10 - July 15, 2026 exploring Noh chant, dance, and instruments with professional Noh actors. Students will travel to Tokyo June 20 - July 11, 2026; the days before and after will be for Zoom instruction. Students will earn six hours of credit for THR 2030 and THR 3530. The application deadline is February 15, 2026. For any questions, email Professor Parks.
Request a Leadership Workshop!
If you are curious about exploring leadership development within your student group, you can request a leadership workshop by visiting this link. To learn more about our workshops and team, visit our workshop webpage. For questions or more information, email Kaleigh Del Greco.
In the Honors Spotlight
Honors College Faculty Led Program studies history, theatre, and empathy in Scotland and England
Top photo features the entire group in the Isle of Skye in the Highlands of Scotland, June 15, 2025, making a stop on our scenic and educational MacBackpackers tour to admire the fog-covered "giants" (according to Scottish folklore). Photo submitted.
Dr. Paulette Marty and John Marty, professors in the Department of Theatre and Dance, led a group of Honors College students to England and Scotland from June 11 to June 26, 2025. On this Faculty-led Education Abroad Program students earned three semester hours for HON 2515: Introduction to Arts and Humanities Research and three semester hours for HON 3515: Walking in Someone Else’s Shoes.
Dr. Marty explained that, “one of the major learning goals of the course was to learn and practice strategies for intentionally developing empathy for other people. The course materials and activities specifically focused on empathizing with historical figures whose lives were very different from ours, and the students did fantastic work. But what was really cool was seeing how they practiced those strategies to develop empathy for each other. They were kind and conscientious and carefully tended the group dynamic to make sure everyone had what they needed and had opportunities to thrive. It was inspiring to watch!”
Read the full spotlight story to hear from these Honors College students about their experience on this faculty-led study abroad.
Have announcements to share? Submissions can be made to honors@appstate.edu. Any content received by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday will be considered for the following week’s issue.
Have a story to share? Share what you have done, what you are doing, or what you will be doing by submitting a story here.
To stay in the know, learn about opportunities, and take part in the Honors community, find us below!